Windows 7

While a vulnerability does exist in the latest Windows client and server platforms with Aero enabled, actually getting exploit code to work and performing successful attacks are not likely to happen. Microsoft downplayed the risk users of Windows 7 64-bit, Windows Server 2008 R2 for 64-bit systems and Windows Server 2008 R2 Itanium systems were exposed to, indicating that the new zero-day, for which details had been disclosed in the wild, was extremely hard to exploit. At the same time, the Redmond company underlined that it was not aware of any attacks targeting the flaw, or of exploit code capable of reaching execution. Continue reading »

Microsoft defended its security features present in Window 7 after their recent exploitation at the event of Pwn2Own hacking contest. Both hackers successfully bypassed DEP and ASLR just in two minutes but Microsoft product manager Pete Lepage tried to defend the position by saying that these features are not meant for preventing every attack. It means that even toady it is not possible for everyone to outwit these security mechanism, it could only happen in a couple of cases where someone have done a lot of work to find all flaws and loopholes in their full proof security system. Continue reading »

Pwn2Own hacking contest exposed the vulnerability of latest software presented by Microsoft and Mozilla, where two researcher Peter Vreugdenhil from Netherlands and Nils from German bypassed a couple of defensive mechanism in present in Windows 7 by using its own code against it. Continue reading »

Hackers have managed to find a way around one of the key antipiracy protections built into Windows 7.

Ordinarily, the operating system requires users to activate their copy of Windows 7 within 30 days. However, a recently outlined method allows the normal notifications to be turned off.

The software doesn’t actually get confirmed as legitimate, but users are able to keep using the product indefinitely.

Microsoft confirmed on Friday it is aware of the technique, but said that it is working to shore up the activation procedure.

“We’re aware of this workaround and are already working to address it,” a Microsoft representative said in a statement, which also urged customers to only use genuine software, noting the fake stuff can contain malware and other bad things.

It’s the latest in a long history of cat-and-mouse moves between the makers of Windows and those who would rather not have to pay for the privilege.

After discovering how easily WEP can be cracked and creating a long, secure WPA2 key, you’ve probably noticed it’s a pain to get friends connected to your Wi-Fi network when they stop by. Windows 7 makes this process easy. Continue reading »